Ride operation, in particular a roller-coaster

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an amusement device, in particular a roller-coaster, comprising a guide and a carriage, which carriage has a bogie, which is secured to the guide so that the carriage can be moved along the guide, and a passenger compartment, that can be rotated relative to the bogie about at least one axis extending transversely to the direction in which the bogie moves, and a method of operating an amusement device, in particular a roller-coaster, wherein a carriage is moved along a guide of the amusement device, such that a passenger compartment of the carriage is rotated relative to a bogie of the carriage about at least one axis extending transversely to the direction in which the bogie moves.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an amusement device, in particular aroller-coaster, and at least one passenger can be seated in a carriageand the carriage transports the passenger along a rail system in orderto induce a feeling of enjoyment in the passenger.

BACKGROUND

A number of roller-coasters are known from the prior art. For example,document DE 203 16 345 U1 discloses a roller-coaster with a verticalapproach run. The roller-coaster has a guide along which the carriage ismoved. In patent specification US 2005/0274275 A1, FIG. 1A illustrateswhat is referred to as an inverted configuration and FIG. 1B what isreferred to as a conventional configuration of a roller-coaster.

Patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,749 B2 describes what isreferred to as a free-fall tower, in which a passenger unit in the formof a train is moved to the top of the tower and can then drop down fromthe tower in a free-fall. It is also disclosed that once the train hasbeen moved to the top of the tower, the tower is rotated about itslongitudinal axis so that the train disposed at the top end of the toweris guided in a different rail system.

Patent specification WO 03/009914 A1 describes an amusement device,where the fun of the ride is enhanced in a simple manner due to the factthat the original type of movement, for example a passenger cartravelling on rails along a roller-coaster, is subjected to a differenttype of movement or, alternatively, the ride continues with thisdifferent type of movement. To this end, additional transport switchingmeans are provided at one or more points along the course of the ride,for example on the frame-mounted rails of a roller-coaster, whichgenerate the additional or alternative type of movement for thepassenger car.

SUMMARY

The underlying objective of the invention is to specify an amusementdevice, a carriage for an amusement device and a method of operating theamusement device, by means of which the fun of the ride can be enhancedfor one or more passengers.

This objective is achieved by the subject matter defined in theindependent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in thedependent claims.

An amusement device proposed by the invention is preferably aroller-coaster, although the invention may also be used with otheramusement devices. The term roller-coaster was originally used to referto a roller-coaster ride in the shape of a “figure of eight”. However,the term “roller-coaster” is not limited to such a shape. Instead, aroller-coaster proposed by the invention may incorporate a plurality ofuphill runs, downhill runs, towers, loop, circles, screws, steep curvesand so on, or combinations of these. For example, a roller-coaster mayhave an intrinsically closed ride course and the passengers board oralight the carriage at a station at ground level.

The amusement device comprises a guide and a carriage. The guide maycomprise at least one rail for example, preferably two rails, and thecourse of the guide defines the travel route of the carriage. Thecarriage is preferably coupled with the guide so that it can merely bemoved along the guide. In particular, the carriage should have fixingmechanisms, which on the one hand enable the carriage to move on theguide with little friction and on the other hand ensure that thecarriage can not come off the guide irrespective of its position. Afixing mechanism may comprise several rollers, which extend aroundseveral sides of the guide so that the carriage can not be derailed.

The carriage comprises a bogie and a passenger compartment. Inparticular, the bogie of the carriage is secured to the guide so thatthe carriage can be moved along the guide. Preferably, the bogieincorporates the at least one fixing mechanism by means of which thecarriage can be secured to the guide.

The passenger compartment may have a seat or a frame on which the seatis disposed. In particular, several seats may be disposed adjacent toone another and/or one behind the other on a single frame or eachdisposed respectively on a frame. The passenger compartment specificallyhas a passenger safety device, for example a pivotable curved bar whichextends around a passenger in the region of the chest in order to securethe passengers on the seat during the ride.

The invention is distinctive due to the fact that the passengercompartment can be rotated, for example pivoted, relative to the bogieabout at least one axis which extends transversely to the direction inwhich the bogie is moving. For example, the at least one axis may be ayaw axis or a pitch axis. In preferred embodiments, the passengercompartment may be rotated about both the yaw axis and the pitch axis.The pitch and yaw axis may extend perpendicular to one another and/ormay extend respectively perpendicular to the direction in which thebogie moves along the guide. In particular, the pitch axis may bedisposed parallel with a guide plane. The guide plane is the plane whichextends at a tangent to the point at which the carriage is disposed. Forexample, the guide plane extends through both rails. In particular, theyaw axis may extend perpendicular, for example normal to, the guideplane.

The terms “pitch”, “yaw” and “rolling” are used in the same way as usedwhen defining the movement of an aircraft. In particular, the termyawing should be interpreted as meaning the rotation of the passengercompartment relative to the bogie about the axis from the point of viewof the passenger seated in a specific way in the passenger compartment.The passenger will perceive a yawing movement as a rotation towards theleft or right. By pitching is meant the rotating movement of thepassenger compartment relative to the bogie about the pitch axis fromthe viewpoint of the passenger disposed in a specific way in thepassenger compartment. The passenger will perceive a pitching movementas a rotating movement forwards or backwards. By rolling is meant arotation which the bogie or the carriage effects relative to thesurrounding area in which the amusement device is erected, about theroll axis from the viewpoint of the bogie, and the roll axis points inparticular in the direction in which the bogie is moving. The passengerwill generally perceive a rolling movement as a lateral tipping actionto the left or right.

The bogie is preferably disposed so that it is not able to yaw, pitchand roll relative to the guide, in which case the yawing, pitching androlling movements of the bogie depend on the geometric contour of theguide.

In order to be able to effect yawing or pitching movements, rotarybearings may be provided, which permit a rotation. For example, thepassenger compartment, in particular the seat, may be coupled with thebogie by means of a frame. The seat is mounted so that it can rotaterelative to the frame about the yaw or pitch axis. Accordingly, theframe may be mounted so that it can be rotated about the pitch or yawaxis. The passenger compartment can preferably be freely rotatable aboutat least one axis relative to the bogie, by motor or damped. Freelyrotatable may mean, for example, that an essentially unaffected rotationis possible about the axis, although this does not rule out a situationwhere the rotation is initially locked and then released at a desiredpoint in time to permit a free rotation. A motorised drive may beprovided with an electric motor, a hydraulic motor or a pneumatic motor,for example. For example, the motor may be switched so that it istorque-free, for example, in which case a free rotation is possible. Inthe case of a damped rotation, a torque is preferably generated by meansof a damping element in the direction opposite the direction ofrotation. Magneto-rheological or electro-rheological materials may beused for this purpose. It would also be conceivable for a damping effectto be produced by operating the motor in generator or throttled mode.

The carriage and/or the amusement device may preferably incorporate afull or at least partial element of a control and regulating unit forexample, which is able to vary the pitching or yawing movement, inparticular the pitch and/or yaw angle of the passenger compartment, sothat an angle subtended by the passenger compartment and a standingsurface of the amusement device can be kept more or less constant, evenin the event of a changing downward gradient of the guide or a changingrising gradient of the guide. This being the case, when the carriage isentering a section of downward gradient which would cause a pitchingmovement of the carriage for example, the angle which the passengercompartment subtends with the standing surface of the amusement devicebefore, during and after the section of downward gradient is keptconstant due to an opposing pitching movement of the passengercompartment. Due to the superimposed rotating movements, the passengerwill subjectively not be able to perceive any rotating movement. Thesame applies to a yawing movement or a combined yawing and pitchingmovement.

The bogie is preferably a single bogie. However, an embodiment wouldalso be conceivable in which a carriage can be coupled with another suchcarriage to form a train.

The carriage may be disposed on the guide in a conventional or invertedconfiguration, for example. By particular preference and constitutingone advantage of the invention, the carriage is disposed on the guide sothat the carriage is able to assume both a conventional and an invertedconfiguration as it moves along the guide. For example, the guide mayhave a screw or a half-loop, by means of which the carriage can beswitched from a conventional to an inverted configuration and viceversa, for example, in particular with a superimposed pitching movement.By conventional configuration is meant a disposition of the passenger inwhich his head is pointing away from the guide. By an invertedconfiguration is meant a disposition of the passenger in which thepassenger has his head pointing towards the guide. In particular, duringa change of configuration, the passenger compartment may be rotatedabout the pitch axis so that the passenger is switched from a positionin which his head is pointing away from the guide to a position in whichhis head is pointing towards the guide. This may take place on astraight run or in a half-loop or in a screw-shaped section of theguide, for example. In particular, the guide may have a section with ascrew-shaped contour, as a result of which the carriage effects arolling movement through this section in order to change from aconventional and inverted configuration to the other of the conventionaland inverted configuration.

The passenger compartment may advantageously be rotated from anorientation in the direction of travel into an orientation opposite thedirection of travel and vice versa. A change in orientation may takeplace with a rotation about the pitch axis or with a rotation about theyaw axis, for example. The amusement device preferably has a leading-inelement, in particular a tower, an elevator or an approach ramp, bymeans of which potential energy can be transmitted to the carriage. Thispotential energy is converted into kinetic energy when the carriage isswitched from a raised position to a lower position and vice versa.

The invention further relates to a method of operating the amusementdevice, whereby the carriage is moved along the guide of the amusementdevice. The method is characterised by the fact that the passengercompartment of the carriage is rotated relative to the bogie of thecarriage about at least one axis extending transversely to the directionin which the bogie moves.

A change of travel direction is effected by means of a pitching movementof the passenger compartment relative to the bogie. For example, arolling movement or pitching movement of the bogie dependent on theguide may be superimposed on the pitching movement. Alternatively, thechange of travel direction may be brought about by a yawing movement ofthe passenger compartment relative to the bogie.

In particular, the change to the configuration of the carriage fromconventional to inverted or vice versa may be caused by a pitchingmovement of the passenger compartment relative to the bogie. Inparticular, the pitching movement may be combined with a rollingmovement of the carriage induced in front of the guide and/or a yawingmovement of the passenger compartment relative to the bogie. Theadvantage of the rolling movement is that the upside down position ofthe passenger induced by the pitching movement is converted into anormal position. If, as an alternative or in addition, a yawing movementof the passenger compartment relative to the bogie is superimposed, thechange of travel direction induced by the pitching movement of thepassenger compartment is compensated, in other words the direction oftravel is changed again so that the orientation of the passengercompartment relative to the direction of movement corresponds to theorientation which the passenger compartment assumed prior to thepitching movement.

Generally speaking, it is preferable if, when there is a change ofcourse in the guide, for example when the bogie effects a yawing,pitching or rolling movement relative to the surrounding area, thepassenger compartment effects a yawing and/or pitching movement relativeto the bogie. This being the case, additional effects can be createdwhich are not induced by the course of the guide.

In particular, it is possible to effect a yawing and/or pitchingmovement of the passenger compartment relative to the bogie so that anangle assumed by the passenger compartment relative to the standingsurface of the amusement device is kept more or less constant. Theadvantage of this is that the passenger has the impression that onlyaxial movements are acting on his body.

For example, the rotation about the at least one axis may be controlledso that during the movement of the carriage along the guide, thepassenger is oriented, at least in certain sections, in the direction ofone point, even if the guide is changing course, and the point may be adistant point or a point in the area around the amusement device.

For example, the amusement device may be operated like a conventionalamusement device, in that the rotating movements about the yaw and/orpitch axis are locked. For example, a passenger may select a specificprogramme before or during the ride, i.e. a specific combination ofrotating movements about the at least one axis. This means that theamusement device can be deployed universally and has an advantage overconventional amusement devices because it is not necessary to rebuildthe entire track in order to change the effects acting on the passenger,and instead, it is merely necessary to change the way the rotatingmovements about the yaw and/or pitch axis are initiated. This has theeffect of ensuring that the ride operation is not boring, as is the casewith some conventional amusement devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to several advantageousembodiments. Preferred embodiments of the invention will be describedbelow with reference to the appended drawings, which advantageously addto the embodiments of the invention described above. Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates the carriage of a roller-coaster of the type knownfrom the prior art in a conventional configuration,

FIG. 2 shows a carriage of a roller-coaster of the type known from theprior art in an inverted configuration,

FIG. 3 shows a bogie disposed on a guide, in relation to which a yawaxis and a pitch axis are indicated,

FIG. 4 shows a carriage with a passenger compartment, which can bepivoted about a yaw and a pitch axis relative to a bogie,

FIG. 5 shows the carriage illustrated in FIG. 4 and how it can beswitched from a conventional configuration to an inverted configuration,

FIG. 6 shows a carriage with a passenger compartment which can effectonly a pitching movement relative to the bogie,

FIG. 7 is a carriage proposed by the invention, illustrated in severalpositions during a downhill run, and

FIG. 8 illustrates how a carriage proposed by the invention effects ahalf-loop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a carriage of a roller-coaster, in a standard orconventional configuration, in which the head of the passenger 4 ispointing away from the guide 1. The carriage has a bogie 2, which isdisposed on the guide 1 in order to effect a longitudinal movement alongthe guide 1. The carriage has a seat 8 on which the passenger is seated.

FIG. 2 illustrates a carriage of a roller-coaster in an invertedconfiguration, in which the head of the passenger 4 is pointing towardsthe guide 1. The passenger occupies a place on a seat 8 secured to thebogie 2.

If the guide 1 were to effect a loop or a screw during its subsequentcourse, the carriages illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 would be rotatedby 180° or 360°, for example, thereby placing the passenger upside down,at least for a short time. This is not actually a change ofconfiguration because the head is still pointing away from the guide asbefore, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or is pointing towards the guide asillustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates a guide, to which a bogie 2 is secured so that it canbe moved along the guide 1 without being derailed. A yaw axis G and apitch axis N are indicated relative to the bogie 2. In the embodimentillustrated, the yaw axis G extends perpendicular to a guide plane,which extends at a tangent to the track contour of the guide and extendsthrough the two rails of the guide 1. The pitch axis N in this instanceextends perpendicular to the yaw axis G and perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the carriage 2 into and out of the plane of thedrawing. However, the pitch axis may also rotate about the yaw axis Gand may be disposed in specific positions, including parallel with thedirection of movement of the carriage. In order to secure the bogie onthe guide, the bogie 2 is provided with fixing mechanisms 7.

FIG. 4 illustrates a guide 1, on which a carriage comprising a bogie 2and a passenger compartment 3 is disposed by means of fixing mechanisms7 attached to the bogie 2. The passenger compartment 3 is coupled withthe bogie 2 by means of a frame 10. The frame 10 is connected to thebogie 2 via an articulated joint 6 so as to be rotatable about the yawaxis G. The articulated joint 6 is able to rotate freely and may bemotor driven or rotatable and damped.

The passenger compartment 3 is connected to the frame 10, which sitsaround the passenger compartment 3 to the left and right of thepassenger, via two articulated joints 5 so as to be rotatable about thepitch axis N. The passenger compartment 3 is disposed between thearticulated joints 5. The articulated joints 5 may also be motor driven,freely rotatable or rotatable and damped. The passenger compartment 3has a seat 8 in which a passenger can be seated. In order to prevent thepassenger from falling out of the seat 8, a passenger safety device 9 isprovided, in the form of a curved bar which sits around the chest areaof the passenger (not illustrated) seated in the seat. The movement ofthe passenger compartment relative to the bogie 2 will be described withreference to the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a guide 1 on which the carriage illustrated in FIG. 4is moved from position a) to position b). The carriage is shownrespectively in position a) and position b). The guide 1 has ascrew-shaped contour from position a) to position b), which causes thecarriage respectively the bogie 2 to roll about the roll axis, whichcorresponds to the direction of movement of the carriage. As a result,the carriage is switched from a conventional configuration illustratedin position a) into an inverted configuration illustrated in positionb). So as not be upside down after the rolling movement, the passengercompartment 8 is rotated about the pitch axis N, thereby resulting inthe inverted configuration. So that the passenger is not sittingopposite the direction of travel, the frame 10 and hence also thepassenger compartment 8 and passenger are also rotated relative to thebogie 2 about the yaw axis G. As required, one or more rotatingmovements can be dispensed with in order to produce specific traveleffects.

FIG. 6 illustrates a carriage, which is secured to the guide 1 viafixing mechanisms 7 in the manner described in connection with FIGS. 3and 4. The carriage has a passenger compartment 3, 8, which can berotated relative to the bogie 2 about a pitch axis N only. A rotation ofthe passenger compartment 3 relative to the bogie 2 about a yaw axisdoes not take place in the embodiment illustrated here.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the carriage from FIG. 6 in several positionsas it travels along the guide 1. FIG. 7 illustrates a guide 1, whichmerges from a flat section into a downhill run, in particular a more orless vertical run, and then back into a flat section. During themovement from the top flat section to the bottom flat section, theorientation or angle which the passenger compartment 3 subtends relativeto a standing surface or surrounding area of the amusement device iskept constant. As the carriage leaves the flat section and enters thesteep section, the bogie 2 effects a pitching movement relative to thesurrounding area, which is compensated by a pitching movement of thepassenger compartment 3 by more or less 90° relative to the bogie 2 inthe opposite direction about the pitch axis N. The amusement device, inparticular the carriage, may be provided with a co-operating control orautomatic control system for this purpose. It would also be conceivablefor the centre of gravity of the passenger compartment 3 including thepassenger to be such that the positions of the passenger compartment 3relative to the bogie 2 illustrated in FIG. 7 are already assumed by theposition of the centre of gravity of the passenger compartment 3relative to the bogie 2. The invention is not restricted to a horizontalorientation of the passenger compartment 3, such as illustrated in FIG.7, and instead passenger compartments oriented at any angle may beprovided for the passenger compartment 3. Particularly preferred is theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, which creates the feeling of a freefall.

The guide illustrated in FIG. 8 follows a course of two half-loops. Asit moves along the guide 1, the bogie 2 effects pitching movementsrelative to the area around the amusement device. In order to compensatefor the pitching movements of the bogie 2, the passenger compartment 3effects opposing pitching movements relative to the bogie 2 about thepitch axis 5. As a result, the angle or orientation of the passengercompartment 3 relative to the standing surface of the amusement deviceis kept constant, as described in connection with FIG. 7. As thecarriage moves along the guide 1 illustrated in FIG. 8, the carriage isswitched from a conventional into an inverted configuration and backinto a conventional configuration. In this example, the passengercompartment 3 effects pitching movements of more or less 180° or evenmore relative to the bogie 2. In the inverted configuration, thepassenger 4 is sitting opposite the direction of travel. It would alsobe conceivable to use a carriage of the type illustrated in FIG. 4, inwhich case the passenger 4 could be rotated by means of an additionalrotation about the yaw axis G in the direction of travel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   -   1 Guide    -   2 Bogie    -   3 Passenger compartment    -   4 Passenger    -   5 Articulated joint for pitching movement    -   6 Articulated joint for yawing movement    -   7 Fixing mechanism    -   8 Seat    -   9 Passenger safety device    -   10 Frame    -   R Roll axis    -   N Pitch axis    -   G Yaw axis

1. Amusement device comprising a guide and a carriage, which carriagehas a bogie, which is secured to the guide so that the carriage isconfigured to be moved along the guide, and a passenger compartment,wherein the passenger compartment is configured to be rotated relativeto the bogie about at least one axis (N, G), which extends transverselyto the direction in which the bogie moves.
 2. Amusement device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the carriage is disposed on the guide in aconventional or inverted configuration.
 3. Amusement device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the carriage is disposed on the guide so that thecarriage is configured to assume both a conventional and an invertedconfiguration as it moves along the guide.
 4. Amusement device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the bogie is disposed so that it can notyaw, pitch and roll relative to the guide and the yawing, pitching androlling movements of the bogie therefore depend on the geometric contourof the guide.
 5. Amusement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein theguide has a section with a screw-shaped course, as a result of which thecarriage effects a rolling movement during the movement through thissection in order to change from a conventional and invertedconfiguration into the other of the conventional and invertedconfigurations.
 6. Amusement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepassenger compartment is configured to be rotated from an orientation inthe direction of travel into an orientation opposite the direction oftravel and vice versa.
 7. Amusement device as claimed in claim 1,further comprising a control or automatic control system by means ofwhich a rotation angle, of the passenger compartment relative to thebogie is controlled.
 8. Amusement device as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising at least one of a tower, an elevator, a conveyor belt or anapproach ramp for transmitting potential energy to the carriage. 9.Carriage for an or for operating on an amusement device comprising abogie, which is configured to be secured to a guide of the amusementdevice so that the carriage is configured to be moved along the guide,and a passenger compartment, wherein the passenger compartment isconfigured to be rotated relative to the bogie about at least one axis(N, G), which extends transversely to the direction in which the bogiemoves.
 10. Carriage as claimed in claim 9, wherein the carriage isconfigured to be separate or to be coupled with at least one other suchcarriage to form a train.
 11. Carriage as claimed in claim 9, whereinthe at least one axis is a pitch axis (N), by means of which thepassenger compartment is configured to effect a pitching movementrelative to the bogie, or a yaw axis (G), by means of which thepassenger compartment is configured to effect a yawing movement relativeto the bogie.
 12. Carriage as claimed in claim 9, wherein the passengercompartment is configured to be rotated relative to the bogie about theat least one axis (N, G) freely, by motor or damped.
 13. Carriage asclaimed in claim 9, further comprising at least a part of a control orautomatic control unit which is configured to vary the at least one ofthe pitch or yaw angle of the passenger compartment so that as adownhill gradient of the guide changes or an uphill pitch of the guidechanges, an angle subtended by the passenger compartment and a standingsurface of the amusement device remains substantially constant. 14.Method of operating an amusement device, in particular a roller-coaster,whereby a carriage is moved along a guide of the amusement device,wherein a passenger compartment of the carriage is rotated relative to abogie of the carriage about at least one axis (G, N) which extendstransversely to the direction in which the bogie moves.
 15. Method asclaimed in claim 14, wherein a change of travel direction is caused by aby a pitching movement of the passenger compartment relative to thebogie, at least one of a rolling movement or pitching movement of thebogie dependent on the guide, or by a yawing movement of the passengercompartment relative to the bogie.
 16. Method as claimed in claim 14,wherein a change of configuration of the carriage between conventionaland inverted is caused by a at least one of a pitching movement of thepassenger compartment relative to the bogie, a rolling movement of thecarriage or a yawing movement of the passenger compartment relative tothe bogie induced by the guide.
 17. Method as claimed in claim 14,wherein the passenger compartment effects at least one of a yawing orpitching movement relative to the bogie when there is a change in thecourse of the guide.
 18. Method as claimed in claim 14, wherein at leastone of a yawing or pitching movement of the passenger compartmentrelative to the bogie is effected so that an angle or an absoluteposition which the passenger compartment assumes relative to a standingsurface is kept substantially constant.